{"id":9179,"date":"2017-08-10T20:09:52","date_gmt":"2017-08-11T00:09:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/?p=9179"},"modified":"2025-10-01T17:41:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T21:41:12","slug":"the-duchess-war-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/9179","title":{"rendered":"The Duchess War"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Duchess War<\/a><\/em> (2012) Courtney Milan<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Set in England in 1863.<\/p>\n

Minerva Lane has been hiding. Hiding from her past and her childhood, and even her name, going by another name, Wilhelmina Pursling. No one but her great aunts knows of her past, not even her best friend Lydia, whose dangerous secrets she’s held for years.<\/p>\n

Robert Blaisdell, the Duke of Clermont is not hiding from his past, but is instead trying to atone for it–less his past and more the actions of his father. When his atonement causes problems for Minnie, she is determined to keep her secrets–and expose his.<\/p>\n

I knew I really liked this series, but for some reason, even though it’s not been that long since I last read it, I was convinced it was better in my memory than in actuality.<\/p>\n

I was wrong. <\/p>\n

Let me get one thing clear, I do love Ilona Andrews books. But the series I just re-read had a great number of weaknesses that I’d noted upon re-reading; weaknesses that became more glaring in close comparison with Courtney Milan’s writing.<\/p>\n

First, the dialog is delightful.<\/p>\n

If I do it my way, when it\u2019s all said and done, people will say, \u2018Well, Minnie really kept her head, even when a duke was about.\u2019\u201d \u201cAnd men will marry you because of that?\u201d he asked dubiously. \u201cI only need one man to do so,\u201d Minnie shot back. \u201cMore would be illegal.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Second, Robert is a wonderful hero. I adore him.<\/p>\n

The man bowed his head. \u201cForgive me, Your Grace. The woman is nothing. I erred. I never thought you would take an interest in one so much beneath you.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s the point in being a duke if I don\u2019t?\u201d The query was out of his mouth before he could call it back\u2014 but he wouldn\u2019t have, even if he could.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But to be clear, he is far from perfect.<\/p>\n

For himself\u2026 He could rarely think of how to respond when immersed in that heady back-and-forth. Sometimes he thought of clever things to say\u2026 hours later. Usually, he committed the worst sin possible: He said what he was really thinking. That was why he came out with gems like, I like your tits. Not one of his finest moments, that.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But he is a kind man, and that is something that can be–and is–used against him. Which is the source of his problems.<\/p>\n

Of course, we also get Sebastian, who I utterly adore.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know me,\u201d Sebastian said. \u201cI\u2019m the soul of discretion.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cNo, you\u2019re not. You are exactly the opposite.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

But it’s more than that. Lydia, Minnie’s best friend is so well developed she gets her own novella. And her personality is very different from Minnie.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time I laugh, he looks at me, judging me for my frivolity. I can\u2019t stand being around him.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cI had no notion,\u201d Minnie said, moving over to sit beside her friend. <\/p>\n

\u201cI work so hard for my frivolity.\u201d Lydia\u2019s hands were shaking. \u201cHow dare he judge me for it!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And then there’s Oliver’s family and Robert’s relationship with them…<\/p>\n

But what I like best is that the story isn’t over once Minnie and Robert get married–instead it continues on, showing how they learn to deal with their differences, and–we also get a surprise that is both unexpected and marvelous.<\/p>\n

This story is complex and compelling, and even the boinking bits have parts that are fascinating and unexpected. It’s marvelous and amazing and a fantastic start to a wonderful series.
\nRating: 9\/10<\/strong><\/p>\n

Published by Courtney Milan<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Duchess War (2012) Courtney Milan Set in England in 1863. Minerva Lane has been hiding. Hiding from her past and her childhood, and even her name, going by another name, Wilhelmina Pursling. No one but her great aunts knows of her past, not even her best friend Lydia, whose dangerous secrets she’s held for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[13,30,33,207,41,26,56],"tags":[50,719,128,729,212,557],"class_list":["post-9179","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-9-10","category-british","category-historical","category-mental-health-rep","category-reread","category-romance","category-sexual-content","tag-boinking","tag-brothers-sinister","tag-courtney-milan","tag-industrial-revolution","tag-ptsd","tag-victorian"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/piQkW-2o3","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4803,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/4803","url_meta":{"origin":9179,"position":0},"title":"The Duchess War","author":"Michelle","date":"August 21, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The Duchess War (2012) Courtney Milan This is the first(ish) book in the series, and the third book I read. Wilhelmina Pursling has a past she is desperately hiding from. She's changed her name and hidden with obscurity with her two great-aunts, and pushed down everything she once was, to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "British"","block_context":{"text":"British","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/british"},"img":{"alt_text":"The-Duchess-War","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/The-Duchess-War.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5694,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/5694","url_meta":{"origin":9179,"position":1},"title":"The Duchess War","author":"Michelle","date":"February 27, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The Duchess War (2012) Courtney Milan .Set in England in 1863 Another re-read, and although good, I don't love it as much as the Countess Conspiracy. But not for lack of trying on the part of the story. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen this before. And it\u2019s really not my sort of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8.5\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8.5\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-5-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"The-Duchess-War","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/The-Duchess-War.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24331,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/24331","url_meta":{"origin":9179,"position":2},"title":"The Duchess War","author":"Michelle","date":"March 23, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Duchess War (2012) Courtney Milan (Brothers Sinister #1) Set in Leicester, England in 1863 \u201cYour Grace,\u201d Stevens finally said, \u201cyour concern does you justice.\u201d The man\u2019s toad-eating did him none. Robert met Stevens\u2019s eyes. \u201cNo, it doesn\u2019t. It\u2019s called basic human decency, and I deserve no credit for doing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Duchess War","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/The-Duchess-War.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":9181,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/9181","url_meta":{"origin":9179,"position":3},"title":"A Kiss for Midwinter","author":"Michelle","date":"August 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"A Kiss for Midwinter (2012) Courtney Milan Set in England in 1863. Lydia was a secondary character in The Duchess War and this is her story--how she found true love despite her past. Dr Grantham also appeared in The Duchess War, although far less than Lydia, but he is still\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "9\/10"","block_context":{"text":"9\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/9-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/A-Kiss-for-Midwinter.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":24335,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/24335","url_meta":{"origin":9179,"position":4},"title":"The Countess Conspiracy","author":"Michelle","date":"March 25, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"The Countess Conspiracy (2013) Courtney Milan (Brothers Sinister #3) Set in Cambridge in 1867 \"...the chance that a male cat will show tortoiseshell coloring is so small we cannot calculate it\u2014one in a thousand, perhaps. My theory provides no explanation for such smallness.\u201d The woman\u2019s voice was beginning to rise\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "9\/10"","block_context":{"text":"9\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/9-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Countess Conspiracy","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/The-Countess-Conspiracy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":12758,"url":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/12758","url_meta":{"origin":9179,"position":5},"title":"The Duchess War","author":"Michelle","date":"April 17, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"The Duchess War (2012) Courtney Milan Set in England in 1863 Minnie has spent her adolescence learning how to be quiet. Unnoticed. Unexceptional. When she was taken in by her great aunts, she agreed with them this would be the best path for her, but now she has reached the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "8\/10"","block_context":{"text":"8\/10","link":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/archives\/category\/8-10"},"img":{"alt_text":"The Duchess War","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/The-Duchess-War-e1511010919935.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9179"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9179\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klishis.com\/reading\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}